Resilient device



Nov. 1'2, 1935. o, w. LOUDENSLAGER RESILIENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1934'7 dimm Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,020,692 vREsILIENT DEVICE Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,330

7 Claims.

This invention relates to shock absorbers or resilient connectingdevices and more particularly to such devices employing huid-cushioningmeans.

One object of the invention is to provide an air cylinder includingresilient device in which the resiliency of the device will besubstantially constant over long periods of use without adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically strong,cushioning device which is adjustable toany desired resiliency, butwhich will be sufliciently light in weight as to be particularlyadaptable to use on aircraft. f

improved sealing means and a new combination of parts in ahuid-cushioning device.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of resilientconnecting means which are 20 particularly adapted toy secure bulkheadsin place in the main rings of a rigid airship.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the deviceembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a bulkhead netting and main frame of arigid airship illustrating the manner in which the resilient deviceconnects the same together.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a slightly modied form ofimproved gasket means for sealing between the piston rod and thecylinder end.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a slightly modied form ofimproved gasket means for sealing between the piston and the cylinder.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 549,706 led July 9, 1931 on a resilient device.Referring to the drawing, a cylinder IU slidably carries a piston IIthat is secured to a hollow piston rod I2 in any desired manner, such asby a plug I3 which is threaded to engage cooperating threaded portionson the piston and rod. The rod I2 extends through and is slidablyjournaled in a cylinder cap I4, which is secured to one end of thecylinder I 0. The cap I4 is provided with suitable mechanical pressuregasket means for sealing against the rod I2, which includes packing I5disposed in a channel in the cap I4. A gland nut i6, which surrounds therod I2 and which is threaded in the end of the cap I4, serves to clampthe packing I5' tightly in place andagainst the rod I 2. A lock nut I 'Iis Another object of the invention is to provide provided on the glandnut I5 and engages the end of the cap I4 to hold the gland nut I6 lockedin any desired position.

Other sealing means shown generally at I8 are also provided between thecap I4 and piston rod 5.

l2, which sealing means are fluid actuated and which include a flexiblemember I9 of leather or rubber. The flexible member I3 is formed with anintegral axially extending annular lip 20 and is adapted to be supportedbetween metal wash- 10` ers 2l and 22. The washer 22 may be providedwith an axially extending annular angerat its inner periphery whichstrengthens the washer but does not interfere with application of fluidpressure means to the lip of the exible 15 member I9. The whole unit orsealing means I8 is resiliently positioned by a spring spider 24 and alocking ring 23 in a chamber 25 formed in the inner end of the cap I4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated 20 in Fig. 3 themechanical spring means for resiliently urging the sealing unit I8 intothe chamber 25 takes the form of a helical spring 24a which bearsagainst a cover 28 secured in the end of the cap I4. The chamber 25 isfilled with 25 grease or other heavy lubricant and to this end apressure gun valve fitting 21 is provided on the cap I4, which opens tothe chamber 25.

It will be noted that the spring means 24 and 24a function toresiliently urge the gasket unit 30 I8 into the chamber I5 against'thefluid pressure created in this chamber by the grease or lubricant forcedtherein. Thus the gasket unit I8 will be held in tight sealing relationat all times between the piston rod I2 and the walls of 35 the chamber25 formed in the'cylinder cap I4. Variations in pressure in the chamber25, such as may be occasioned by temperature changes, loss of fluid, orother known means, is readily compensated for while maintaining thegasket unit I8 in tight sealing relation at al1 times.

The rod I2 is provided with extensible means and for this purpose theouter end of the rod is threaded to receive a cap 3|, which isinternally threaded and receives a threaded rod 32. The threaded rod 32is locked in position by a lock nut 33 which engages with the cap 3l.The rod 32 is adapted to be secured to one of the members to beconnected together preferably through the agency of a ball and socketjoint, which is indicated diagrammatically at 34. The cap 3| is lockedon the end of the piston rod I2 by a nut and leather or other cushioningmeans 3l is providedl between the nut 36 and the gland Surrounding thecap I4 is a collar 4I which is provided with a number of radiallyextending lugs 42 formed with suitable eyelets 43. -The collar 4I andthus the cylinder I0 can be secured by any suitable means such as wires44, to the other of the members to be resiliently connected together.

The piston Il is provided with mechanical pressure means for'sealing.against the cylinder IE, which means comprise a plurality of gaskets 5Iwhich are received about the piston. The,`

gaskets 5I are separated by metal rings 52 and the whole assembly isforced together and into sealing relation with the inner wallof ,.the.-cylinder by a ring 53, which is threaded on `thepiston I I.

Additional fluid pressure means for sealing Vbe:`

tween the piston and the cylinder are provided,

which are indicated generally by the numeral 54;l and whichY include acollar 55 secured by suitablemeans (not shown) on the rod I2 adjacentthe piston II. is carriedfonf'the'collar 55 Tand comprises a flexiblemember 56 of leather'or rubber which is supported by metal washers15'land 5B. The lexible member 56 is formed with an integral annular lip `59and the Awasher 58 isformed with an inwardly turned annular flange 6UaroundH the outer edgesfso that uid under pressure will be readilyaccessible to the lip 59.

The gasketfunit, indicated generally bythe numeralL54; isadaptedto beresiliently urged by positive mechanical spring means towards the pistonI I -and to this end a spring spider B6 may be-employed which ispositioned between the collar55fand-fthe gasket unit54 Yto resilientlyurge the ygasket, unit-towards the pistonV I I. Again, as illustrated inthe modication or" the invention shown` in Fig.- 4, a cup abutment 62may besecured on the piston rod I2 at the outer side of the collarv55.v` The-cup abutment I52is adapted to'receive a coiled spring 66awhich bears against-themetallic washer 51 of the gasket unit 54;-

From the drawing, it will be observed that a chambery `6I is formedbetween the sealing means 54 andthe piston. The chamberis lled withgreaseor other lubricating means which is supplied thereto underpressure by Vway of a pressure gun tting 53-j connected with the chamberby passages 64,1-which fitting is carried inthe plug I 3connecting therod I2 and piston II together.

The ringr53 is provided with passages 65 `which openfto-the chamber 6Iso that the lubricant will extend vup into contacting relation with theend gasket 5Iv and will force it into engagement with the cylinder I8 byiluid aswell as mechanical pressure. Y

It will be Yunderstood *that .in theV operation of the -pistonfin thecylinder the 4spring 66 or 66a will function to resiliently urge thegasketrunit 54 intothe pressure chamber 6I which contains the grease orother lubricant under sealing pressure. Thus thergasket unit 54A vwillserve to seal tightly between the Lpiston` I I 1and the cylinder I underall conditions Yof operation over Vlong periods of time as aboveexplained in detail inconjunction with the'operation of gasket unit I8.V

In order to limit the movement o the piston I I in the cylinder,suitable means are preferablyv providedwhich may comprisera sleeve I'IVAcarried on the rodi-I2 which serves to position aflanged abutment 68 onthe rod'IZ.' In the movement ci the rod I2an'd piston II outwardly, theabutment v68Jwill engage with the inner end of the cap I4 to limit thetravel of the rodfI 2 'and piston II in the cylinder III.

The sealing meansror gasket unit 54' A ring cap 1I, filled withabsorbent waste l2,` maybe secured over the end of the cylinder I0opposite the cap I4 and will serve to absorb any leakage of oil orgrease past the gasket means on the piston.

In order to provide any desired pressure within the cylinder I0, a valve'I5 is secured in the cap I4, which valve isconnected with the interiorof the cylinder I0. Y

In the operation of the device the chambers 25 and 6I are initiallyiilled with lubricant by way of the ttings 21 and 53. Suiicientlubricant'is suppliedA so that considerable pressure is provided inthechambers, which pressure serves to force the lips 2li-and 59 of theflexible members 2l vand Sitightly into sealing engagement, Thispressure in the chambers will be resiliently maintained through theagency ofthe springs 66 or 66e and. 24 ,or 24e which resiliently urgethe gasket units into the chambers atall times. It can be saidthatlmechanical spring `means' raccordingly assist andlmaintainthe-iluidealing action of the gasket units. Fluid,y suchas air; is nowsupplied to the interior of the cylinder III-to establish any desiredpressureso thatvthe/ device willbe given an initial resiliency. The uidwith# in the cylinder I' also functions to urge the gasketrunits Irand54-into theirsealing chambers to maintain the iiexible members 2l and56' threaded rod 32andfthepball and socket joint 34 whilethe cylinder.`I will be connected to the bulkhead` 'II `through the agency ofithewires 44` and collar 4 I.

The seal' provided` by the mechanical gasket means I4 yand lifcan` beadjusted. by tightening the gland; nut I6 and .the Vring53=respective1y- The pressures in the chambers `6I and 25`rnaybe revivedi or increasedi asv found necessaryffrom time to time byapplyingaapressure. gunrtothe ttings'fl and This can .readilybe doneVwhile the resilient. fastening .device is in operation.

If `it isVY desired :tonadjust the distance between the means fastenedtogether by the resilient-,2devicetthevlock nut cn the threadedrod 32maybeturnedlback andi-the :odV 32 screwed in'or out of the'cap 3 I'thedesireddistancaafter whichthe nut 133 is rundown against the cap 3i 'tolock the rod 32 .sin` the adjusted position.`

By makingithe collar 4I smaller than the overa1lrdi`ameter-0f^the cap I4Tand cylinder If),` any chance for the fastening means to failcompletely mechanically is. reduced inasinuch'as the piston II Twill betoobig,.to:pass throughv the collar 4I. In useV the piston II and rod I2canitravel in the cylinder; Ifonly until `the abutment 168 engages ywiththe-inside endfof the cap I4.` The distance that a resilient connectingdevice has been provided in which the resiliency can be initiallyadjusted over a wide range and which can be readily changed whendesired. rIl'he device is strong and eflicient in operation and yet islight in Weight. Mechanical and fluid-pressure means are pro'- videdbetween the piston and cylinder and between the rod and cylinder cap sothat the initially applied pressure in the cylinder is retainedsubstantially constant in use over long periods. The resilient fasteningdevice provides adjustable means whereby the distance between the meansto be fastened together can be varied, which feature allows it to bemore readily secured to the means to be fastened together and which alsogives a very desirable take-up betwen the means.

While the resilient fastening device is light in weight and isparticularly adapted for use with aircraft, it will be apparent that itmay be used in substantially any relation in which a resilient fasteningmember or shock absorber is required.

Although I have illustrated but the preferred form of the invention andhave described that form in detail, it will be apparent to those skilledin the art that the invention is not so limited but that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A resilient fastening device comprising a cylinder, a piston in thecylinder, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the end ofthe cylinder, lip gasket means sealing between the piston and thecylinder, lip gasket means sealing between the rod and the end of thecylinder, said lip gasket means being adapted to be forced by alubricant under pressure into sealing relation with the cylinder and therod, and mechanism for maintaining the lip gasket means reslientlyagainst the pressure of the lubricant.

2. A resilient connecting device comprising a cylinder having a closedend, a piston slidably carried in the cylinder, a rod connected to thepiston and extending through the closed end of the cylinder, lip typefluid-pressure sealing means between the rod and the cylinder end, andbetween the piston and the cylinder, and valved conduit means connectedwith the fluid-pressure sealing means, the conduit means beingpositioned so that fluid under pressure can be supplied thereto whilethe device is in operation, and resilient mechanism associated with thefluid-pressure sealing means for maintaining the fluid pressure and forforcing the lips of the sealing means into sealing relation at alltimes.

3. In an air spring, a pair of telescoping members, one of said membersincluding an annular lip packing which bears against the adjacent wallof the other member, said first-named member also having an annularrecess filled with lubricant which contacts with the lip of the packingto force it into contact with said wall, and metallic spring means forcontinuously exerting a pressure onl the packing to force it against thepressure of the lubricant during the operation of the air spring tothereby hold the lip of the packing in sealing relation at all times.

4. In an air spring, two telescoping members, one of said memberscarrying a lip packing for the sliding joint between the members andcarrying also a pocket of grease adjacent said packing, said greaseforcing the lip of the packing into sealing relation and contacting thetelescoping surface of the other of said members, me-

f tallic-spring means engaging the llip packing and exerting pressuretherethrough upon the grease in said pocket, and means accessible fromthe exterior of the device for injecting grease into said pocket againstthe action of said spring means.

5. A resilient fastening device comprising a cylinder, a piston in thecylinder, said piston being yieldably maintained in a predeterminedposition by gaseous pressure in the cylinder, a rod secured to thepiston and extending through the end of the cylinder, lip gasket meanssealing betweenthe piston and the cylinder, lip gasket means sealingbetween the rod and the end of the cylinder, a lubricant under pressurefor forcing thelip gasket means into sealing relation with the cylinderand with the rod and spring means acting directly upon the lip gasketmeans for maintaining the lubricant under compression, thus to minimizethe formation of gas bubbles therein and the leakage of gas causedthereby.

6. A resilient fastening device comprising a cylinder, a piston in thecylinder, Said piston being yieldably maintained in a predeterminedposition by gaseous pressure in the cylinder, a rod secured to thepiston and extending through the end of the cylinder, lip gasket meanssealing between the piston and the cylinder, lip gasket means sealingbetween the rod and the end of the cylinder, a lubricant under pressurefor L1- forcing the lip gasket means into sealing relation with thecylinder and with the rod and a spring spider acting directly upon thelip gasket means for maintaining the lubricant under compression,

thus to minimize the formation of gas bubbles therein and the leakage ofgas caused thereby.

7. A resilient fastening device comprising a cylinder, a piston in thecylinder, said piston being yieldably maintained in a predeterminedposition by gaseous pressure in the cylinder, a rod secured to thepiston and extending through the end of the cylinder, lip gasket meanssealing between the piston and the cylinder, lip gasket means sealingbetwen the rod and the end of the cylinder, a lubricant under pressurefor forcing .7.

OSCAR W. LOUDENSLAGER.

